Thank you, Arizona

The picture used in this post is of a US postal worker walking through the streets of Scottsdale Arizona wearing a colorful protective mask, made in Guatemala. Date April 2020, how this happened is the point of this blog post.

March of 2020 Guatemala closed the countries borders to stop the spread of Covid 19, within weeks of Arizona closing Bars, Restaurants, Health clubs, and Spas furloughing thousands. Both of our countries suffered a shortage of protective masks. I decided to have our Guatemala Textile Artisans produce masks with the aid of medical professionals helping with the design.

Medical Masks to Arizona

Heather McManus was furloughed from the Club and decided to help sell masks from Guatemala. Heather took to social media, emailed friends and the first order was from a friend of Heather’s, who order 5000 masks, with the stipulation the masks were to be given for free.

Thank you, Arizona

The first shipment of Masks arrived at Heather’s home and friends came to her house at times lined up for masks. Many offered donations, wrote kind notes of thanks amounting to over $3000 in donations. Sent to Guatemala in the form of aid and used appropriately.

Donations for Masks continue

This kind gesture from many in Arizona launched Ethical Fashion Guatemala into full-scale production of masks. To date, our Artisans have produced and shipped over 36,000 masks worldwide. I honestly feel without the help of the kind people of Arizona this would never have happened.

Thank you, Arizona

Lake Atitlan Guatemala’s economy is 90% based on tourism, nine months of our borders closed was economically devastating. Textile Artisans relied on Tourism, mask production employed hundred that found themselves without any form of income.